Information processing system, recording/playback apparatus, playback terminal, information processing method, and program

ABSTRACT

An information processing system is disclosed. The information processing system includes: a recording/playback apparatus; and a playback terminal. The recording/playback apparatus includes an output unit, a management unit, and a playback unit. The playback terminal includes a playback unit, a generating unit, and an output unit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a continuation application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/750,621, filed May 18, 2007, which contains subject matterrelated to Japanese Patent Application JP 2006-161084 filed in theJapanese Patent Office on Jun. 9, 2006, the entire contents of both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an information processing system, arecording/playback apparatus, a playback terminal, an informationprocessing method and a program, particularly, relates to theinformation processing system, the recording/playback apparatus, theplayback terminal, the information processing method and the program, inwhich a position of a content from which playback is started by therecording/playback device can be selected by a user by referringpositions designated by the playback terminal.

2. Background Art

In recent years, concerning a recorder which records video contents suchas broadcast programs, the ones using nonvolatile memories having highcapacity such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) and a DVD (Digital VersatileDisc) prevail, which enables recording of many video contents. It isanticipated that the number of video contents which can be recorded inthe recorder continues to increase by the increase of capacity of theHDD and commercialization of optical discs having high capacity.

Additionally, as multi-channel broadcasting is introduced in recentyears, multi-content delivery is proceeding. In addition to previousterrestrial analog broadcasting, CS (Communications Satellite) digitalbroadcasting, BS (Broadcasting Satellite) digital broadcasting, andterrestrial digital broadcasting are started, which increases the numberof video contents which can be seen by viewers.

Accordingly, it is presumable that, as the recorder in the future, therecorder complying with the multi-channel broadcasting will prevail. Inview of that, it is presumable that many viewers perform recording forthe moment and select video contents to be actually viewed among therecorded contents.

Viewing style in which video contents recorded in the recorder areviewed by a portable terminal is prevailing, based on technicalbackground such as improvement of processing power of the CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) in the potable terminals represented by a cellularphone, high capacity in a memory card removable from the portableterminal, and high capacity in a nonvolatile memory mounted on theportable terminal, as well as environmental changes such as increase ofprerecorded video contents.

In JP-A-2002-262220 (Patent Document 1), a technique is disclosed, inwhich a video content is transmitted to a portable information apparatusafter the content is converted into a file for the portable playbackdevice in a recording/playback apparatus connected to the portableplayback device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the viewing style of video contents using the portable terminalis not always excellent in the following points.

-   1. Since it is necessary to compress data of video contents, picture    quality is low.-   2. On the nature of the portable terminal as a device, the size of a    display used for viewing is small.-   3. Viewing in trains or at the outdoor is anticipated, therefore    there is a case that a noise problem exist.

Consequently, it is conceivable that there a request that at least mainscenes of the video content viewed by using the portable terminal areviewed by using a device at home having good viewing environment,however, in the technique at present, it is necessary that playback isstarted from the head of the video content and desired positions to beviewed are searched by performing fast-forwarding operation or rewindingoperation despite it is the same video content as the one viewed byusing the portable terminal.

It is desirable to allow the user to select positions of the contentfrom which playback is started by the recording/playback apparatus byreferring positions designated by the playback terminal.

An information processing system according to an embodiment of theinvention includes a recording/playback apparatus and a playbackterminal. The recording/playback apparatus as one of them has an outputunit outputting a content to the playback terminal, a management unitmanaging a list in which plural information including positioninformation indicating positions designated by a user of the playbackterminal during playback of the content and identification informationof the user of the playback terminal, which are outputted from theplayback terminal, and a playback unit presenting specific informationat respective positions indicated by the position information includedin information including the same identification information asidentification information designated by the user among informationregistered in the list, and playing back the content from a selectedposition, and the playback terminal has a playback unit playing back acontent outputted from the recording/playback apparatus, a generatingunit generating information including position information indicatingpositions in the content designated by the user during playback of thecontent and identification information of the user, and registering theinformation in the list, and an output unit outputting the list in whichplural information generated by the generating unit is registered to therecording/playback apparatus.

A recording/playback apparatus according to an embodiment of theinvention includes an output unit outputting a content to the playbackterminal, a management unit managing a list in which plural informationincluding position information indicating positions designated by a userof the playback terminal during playback of the content andidentification information of the user of the playback terminal, whichare outputted from the playback terminal, and a playback unit presentingspecific information of the content at respective positions indicated bythe position information included in information including the sameidentification information as identification information designated bythe user among information registered in the list, and playing back thecontent from a selected position.

The playback unit can present at least images of the content and timeinformation at respective positions as the specific information.

In the case that comments inputted by the user of the playback terminalwhen designating positions of the content are included in informationregistered in the list, the playback unit can further represent thecomments as the specific information in addition to images of thecontent and time information at respective positions.

An information processing method or a program according to an embodimentof the invention includes the steps of outputting a content to aplayback terminal, managing a list in which plural information includingposition information indicating positions designated by a user of theplayback terminal during playback of the content and identificationinformation of the user of the playback terminal, which are outputtedfrom the playback terminal, and presenting specific information of thecontent at respective positions indicated by the position informationincluded in information including the same identification information asidentification information designated by the user among informationregistered in the list, and playing back the content from a selectedposition.

A playback terminal according to an embodiment of the invention includesa playback unit playing back a content outputted from arecording/playback apparatus, a generating unit generating informationincluding position information indicating positions in the contentdesignated by the user during playback of the content and identificationinformation of the user, and registering the information in a list, andan output unit outputting the list in which plural information generatedby the generating unit is registered to the recording/playbackapparatus.

The generating unit, when position registration is instructed during theplayback of the content, can present plural positions which are prior toa playback position at the time by predetermined periods of time aspositions to be able to be registered, and can generate informationincluding the position information indicating a selected position fromthe presented positions.

The generating unit can generate information including comments inputtedby the user when designating positions of the content.

An information processing method or a program according to an embodimentof the invention includes the steps of playing back a content outputtedfrom a recording/playback apparatus, generating information includingposition information indicating positions of the content designated bythe user during the playback of the content and identificationinformation of the user, and registering the information in a list, andoutputting the list in which the generated plural information isregistered to the recording/playback apparatus.

In the recording/playback apparatus in the information processing systemof the embodiment of the invention, the content is outputted to theplayback terminal, and the list is managed, in which plural informationincluding position information indicating positions designated by theuser of the playback terminal during playback of the content and theidentification information of the user of the playback terminal, whichare outputted from the playback terminal. In addition, specificinformation of the content at respective positions indicated by theposition information included in information including the sameidentification information as identification information designated bythe user among information registered in the list is presented, and thecontent is played back from a selected position.

On the other hand, in the playback terminal, a content outputted fromthe recording/playback apparatus is played back, information includingposition information indicating positions in the content designated bythe user during playback of the content and identification informationof the user is generated and registered in the list. In addition, thelist in which the generated plural information is registered isoutputted to the recording/playback apparatus.

According to the embodiment of the invention, a content is outputted toa playback terminal, a list in which plural information includingposition information indicating positions designated by a user of theplayback terminal during playback of the content and identificationinformation of the user of the playback terminal, which are outputtedfrom the playback terminal is managed. In addition, specific informationof the content at respective positions indicated by the positioninformation included in information including the same identificationinformation as identification information designated by the user amonginformation registered in the list is presented, and the content isplayed back from a selected position.

According to the embodiment of the invention, a content outputted from arecording/playback apparatus is played back, information includingposition information indicating positions of the content designated bythe user during the playback of the content and identificationinformation of the user is generated and registered in a list. Inaddition, the list in which the generated plural information isregistered is outputted to the recording/playback apparatus.

According to the embodiment of the invention, the user selects aposition of the content from which playback is started by therecording/playback apparatus, referring positions designated by usingthe playback terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration example of an informationprocessing system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a display example of a registration window fora playback start position;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a display example of a selection window for aplayback start position;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a function configuration of arecording/playback device;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a function configuration of a portableplayback device;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining processing of the recording/playbackdevice;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining processing of the portable playbackdevice; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a personalcomputer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, and thecorrespondence between constituent features of the invention andembodiments described in the specification and the drawings isexemplified as follows. The description is made for confirming thatembodiments which support the invention are written in the specificationand the drawings. Therefore, if there is an embodiment which is writtenin the specification and the drawings but not written here as theembodiment corresponding to a constituent feature of the invention, thatdoes not mean that the embodiment does not correspond to the constituentfeature. Conversely, if an embodiment is written here as the embodimentcorresponding to the invention, that does not mean that the embodimentdoes not correspond to a feature other than the constituent feature.

An information processing system according to an embodiment of theinvention (for example, an information processing system of FIG. 1)basically includes a configuration of a recording/playback apparatus ofthe embodiment of the invention (for example, a recording/playbackdevice 1 of FIG. 1) and a configuration of a playback terminal of theembodiment of the invention (for example, a portable playback device 2of FIG. 1). The correspondence between respective configurations andembodiments will be described as follows.

A recording/playback apparatus according to an embodiment of theinvention includes an output unit (for example, a transfer unit 52 ofFIG. 4) outputting a content to the playback terminal, a management unit(for example, a playback position information list management unit 53 ofFIG. 4) managing a list in which plural information including positioninformation indicating positions designated by a user of the playbackterminal during playback of the content and identification informationof the user of the playback terminal, which are outputted from theplayback terminal, and a playback unit (for example, a display controlunit 54 of FIG. 4) presenting specific information of the content atrespective positions indicated by the position information included ininformation including the same identification information asidentification information designated by the user among informationregistered in the list, and playing back the content from a selectedposition.

An information processing method or a program according to an embodimentof the invention includes the steps of outputting a content to aplayback terminal, managing a list in which plural information includingposition information indicating positions designated by a user of theplayback terminal during playback of the content and identificationinformation of the user of the playback terminal, which are outputtedfrom the playback terminal, and presenting specific information of thecontent at respective positions indicated by the position informationincluded in information including the same identification information asidentification information designated by the user among informationregistered in the list, and playing back the content from a selectedposition (for example, Step S7 of FIG. 6).

A playback terminal according to an embodiment of the invention includesa playback unit (for example, a display control unit 62 of FIG. 5)playing back a content outputted from a recording/playback apparatus, agenerating unit (for example, a playback position information generatingunit 63 of FIG. 5) generating information including position informationindicating positions in the content designated by the user duringplayback of the content and identification information of the user, andregistering the information in the list, and an output unit (forexample, a transfer unit 61 of FIG. 5) outputting the list in whichplural information generated by the generating unit is registered to therecording/playback apparatus.

An information processing method or a program according to an embodimentof the invention includes the steps of playing back a content outputtedfrom a recording/playback apparatus, generating information includingposition information indicating positions of the content designated bythe user during the playback of the content and identificationinformation of the user, and registering the information in a list, andoutputting the list in which the generated plural information isregistered to the recording/playback apparatus (for example, Step S19 ofFIG. 7).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be explained withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration example of an informationprocessing system according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing system includes arecording/playback device 1 and a portable playback device 2.

The recording/playback device 1 is a hybrid recorder including, forexample, an HDD drive and a DVD drive, which is placed at home. On theother hand, the portable playback device 2 is a terminal such as acellular phone, which is held by the user.

The recording/playback device 1 and the portable playback device 2 cancommunicate with each other through wires or air. The communicationbetween the recording/playback device 1 and the portable playback device2 is also performed through a memory card respectively removable withrespect to the recording/playback device 1 and the portable playbackdevice 2.

In the information processing system including these devices, the usertransfers a prerecorded content recorded in the recording/playbackdevice 1 to the portable playback device 2 and can view the content byusing the portable playback device 2. When the user is viewing thecontent by using the portable playback device 2, the user can alsoregister positions such as favorite scenes in the portable playbackdevice 2.

Information concerning positions registered in the portable playbackdevice 2 is outputted from the portable playback device 2 to therecording/playback device 1 at a predetermined timing such as when thecommunication becomes available again, and respective positions arepresented to the user by the recording/playback device 1. The userallows the recording/playback device 1 to start playing back of the samecontent as the content viewed by using the portable playback device 2from the selected position by selecting a designated position from thepositions to be presented. A television receiver including an LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) and the like is connected to therecording/playback device 1, and content video played back by therecording/playback device 1 is displayed on a screen of the televisionreceiver.

The above function is used, for example, on an occasion when positionsof favorite scenes at the time of viewing the content by using theportable playback device 2 are registered, and the same scenes arereviewed leisurely by using the recording/playback device 1 after cominghome, or on an occasion when one scene of a program such as an Englishconversation program is viewed repeatedly by using therecording/playback device 1 or the portable playback device.

A sequence of processing flow performed between the recording/playbackdevice 1 and the portable playback device 2 will be explained.

A plurality of prerecorded contents are recorded in therecording/playback device 1, and a content selected, for example, from alist of the prerecorded contents by the user is converted into a contenthaving a format for the portable playback device 2 by loweringresolution or reducing the transfer rate as shown by an arrow A1.

The content whose format has been converted is copied to the portableplayback device 2 by communication performed between therecording/playback device 1 and the portable playback device 2 by wiresor air, or by a memory card in which the content is recorded by therecording/playback device 1 mounted on the portable playback device 2and read out from the portable playback device 2, as shown by an arrowA2. The original content remains in the recording/playback device 1 andthe content having lower quality than the original content, though thecontents are the same as the original, is outputted to the portableplayback device 2.

In the portable playback device 2, the content copied from therecording/playback device 1 is played back according to an instructionby the user as shown by an arrow A3, and video of the content isdisplayed at a display unit 21 provided in the portable playback device2. The user can view the content which has been recorded in therecording/playback device 1 by using the portable playback device 2.

During viewing of the content, as described above, the user can registerpositions of the content by operating, for example, a button provided atthe portable playback device 2. The operation by the user is received byan input unit 22 and playback position information is generatedaccording to the input by the user.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a display example of a registration window fora playback start position.

The window shown in FIG. 2 is displayed when the user instructs theposition registration during viewing of the content.

When the user instructs the position registration, the playback of thecontent becomes a pause state, and a menu 31 is displayed as a UI (UserInterface) used for the position registration, being superimposed on thecontent video as shown in FIG. 2.

In the menu 31, an “YES” button 32 selected when registering a position,a “NO” button 33 selected when position registration is stopped, and aselection menu 34 used for selecting a position to be registered as aposition played back how many seconds prior to a current playbackposition when the user instructs the position registration aredisplayed.

In the example of FIG. 2, three items of “0 second before”, “10 secondsbefore” and “20 seconds before” are displayed in the selection menu 34,and the user can register the position which is prior to the currentplayback position by the selected seconds from the selection menu 34 byselecting one item by pressing an up-and-down button provided at asurface of a casing of the portable playback device 2, and next,selecting the “YES” button 32.

When registering the position, the user can input designated characterstrings as a comment concerning the position which has been registeredby the user. It is preferable that the input of character strings isperformed by using the UI for inputting character strings such as asoftware keyboard, or also preferable to be performed by using alphabetkeys physically provided at the portable playback device 2.

The position registration is performed by the user, using the UIdescribed above.

Returning to the explanation for FIG. 1, when the input concerning theposition by the user is received by the input unit 22, as shown by anarrow A4, playback position information concerning the positiondesignated by the user is generated, and registered in a playbackposition information list stored in an internal nonvolatile memory. Thecommunication of information between the recording/playback device 1 andthe portable playback device 2 is performed through the memory card, theplayback position information generated in accordance with the input bythe user will be registered in the playback position information liststored in the memory card.

For example, an identification ID of the content during playback, anidentification ID of the user and optional character strings inputted bythe user are included in the playback position information, in additionto position information represented by time from the head of thecontent. That is, one position in the content is indicated by oneplayback position information. In the playback position information listcan register plural playback position information. It is also preferablethat playback position information of plural contents is allowed to beregistered in one playback position information list. In the case thatthe identification ID is set in the portable playback device 2, forexample, an identification ID of the portable playback device 2 is usedas the identification ID of the user.

The registration of the playback position information is repeated everytime position registration is instructed by the user and playbackposition information is generated, and the playback position informationlist obtained by the processing is copied to the recording/playbackdevice 1 at a predetermined timing as shown by an arrow A5. The copy ofthe playback position information list is performed by, for example, thecommunication between the recording/playback device 1 and the portableplayback device 2 by wires or air or by the recording/playback device 1reading out the playback position information list recorded in thememory card by the portable playback device 2.

When the playback position information list is copied to the internalnonvolatile memory, only playback position information concerning thecontent selected as a playback target by the user from all playbackposition information registered in the playback position informationlist is selected in the recording/playback device 1. The selection ofthe playback position information is performed based on a result ofmatching between the identification ID of the content selected as theplayback target and the identification ID of the content included in theplayback position information.

Additionally, a thumbnail image is generated, which shows the contentsat a position of the content indicated by the playback positioninformation selected based on the identification ID of the content, anddisplayed at a display unit 11 by the recording/playback device 1 asshown by an arrow A6. In the case that the user registered pluralpositions in one content, thumbnail images showing the contents atrespective positions are generated and displayed in a list. The displayunit 11 is, for example, a component of the television receiverconnected to the recording/playback device 1.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a display example of a selection window for aplayback start position.

The window shown in FIG. 3 is displayed when the content of the playbacktarget is selected and the display of the list of the playback startpositions is instructed by the user, using, for example, a remotecontroller of the recording/playback device 1.

In the example of FIG. 3, information of four playback start positionsis displayed at columns 41 to 44 in time series, respectively. Thefigure shows the example in which the user registered four positionswhen the user viewed a content of “W-Cup Soccer Japan×Brazil” a title ofwhich is shown at an upper part of FIG. 3 by using the portable playbackdevice 2.

Information displayed in the column 41 in FIG. 3 is informationconcerning a position specified by “0:00:00” in the content of “W-CupSoccer Japan×Brazil”.

An image displayed at the left end of the column 41 is a thumbnail imagegenerated by the recording/playback device 1 based on the content videoat the position specified by “0:00:00”, and character strings “PROGRAMSTART” displayed at the right side of the display of “0:00:00” are acomment inputted when the user registered the position of “0:00:00” inthe portable playback device 2.

Information displayed at the column 42 of FIG. 3 is informationconcerning a position specified by “0:15:12” in the content of “W-CupSoccer Japan×Brazil”.

An image displayed at the left end of the column 42 is a thumbnail imagegenerated by the recording/playback device 1 based on the content videoat the position specified by “0:15:12”, and character strings “GAMESTART” displayed at the right side of the display of “0:15:12” are acomment inputted when the user registered the position of “0:15:12” inthe portable playback device 2.

In the same manner, information displayed at the column 43 of FIG. 3 isinformation concerning a position specified by “0:53:33” in the contentof “W-Cup Soccer Japan×Brazil”, and information displayed at the column44 is information concerning a position specified by “1:27:20” in thecontent of “W-Cup Soccer Japan×Brazil”.

The user can select a playback start position at a certain column fromthe above window displayed by the recording/playback device 1 byoperating the remote controller and the like and allows the playback ofthe content to start from the selected position.

For example, when the user selects the playback start position of thecolumn 42 of FIG. 3, playback of the content “W-Cup Soccer Japan×Brazil”is started from the position specified by “0:15:12” in therecording/playback device 1.

The display of the window shown in FIG. 3 is performed based on playbackposition information including the same identification ID as the user'sidentification ID inputted by the user. In the case that plural usersuse the recording/playback device 1, respective users can display thelist of playback start positions registered by them by instructing thedisplay of the list of the playback start positions after respectiveusers input their identification IDs.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 1, the operation performed by theuser with respect to the window shown in FIG. 3 are received by an inputunit 12. When the operation of selecting the playback start position bythe user is received by the input unit 12, the playback is started froma position selected by the user as shown by an arrow A7.

As described above, the user can select the position from which theplayback is started by the recording/playback device 1 by referring thepositions which have been registered when viewed by using the portableplayback device 2. The user can easily search scenes and the likeregistered by the user because he/she wanted to view the scenes againwhen coming home.

Additionally, since comments in putted when positions have beenregistered are displayed at the list of playback start positions, theuser can search the target scene more easily, as compared with the casein which thumbnail images and positions are merely displayed asinformation of respective positions.

The details of respective processing of the recording/playback device 1and the portable playback device 2 performed according to the above flowwill be described later with reference to flowcharts.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a function configuration example ofthe recording/playback device 1. At least part of function units shownin FIG. 4 is realized by a prescribed program executed by a CPU includedin the recording/playback device 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the recording/playback device 1, a contentsstorage unit 51, a transfer unit 52, a playback position informationlist management unit 53, and a display control unit 54 are realized.

The contents storage unit 51 stores prerecorded contents. The contentsrecorded in the contents storage unit 51 are read out by the transferunit 52 when transferred to the portable playback device 2, and read outby the display control unit 54 when played back on therecording/playback device 1.

For example, when a content is selected from the list of prerecordedcontents by the user, the transfer unit 52 reads out the selectedcontent from the contents storage unit 51 and converts the read-outcontent into a content having a format for the portable playback device2 to be transferred to the portable playback device 2.

The transfer unit 52 also acquires the playback position informationlist managed by the portable playback device 2 when the list istransferred from the portable playback device 2, and outputs theplayback position information list to the playback position informationlist management unit 53.

The playback position information list management unit 53 manages theplayback position information list transferred from the portableplayback device 2 by storing the list in a nonvolatile memory and thelike. The playback position information list management unit 53 is, forexample, when a content of a playback target is selected by the user,performs matching between the identification ID of the selected contentand identification IDs of contents included in respective playbackposition information registered in the managed playback positioninformation list, and outputs only the playback position informationhaving the matched identification ID to the display control unit 54.

There is a case in which, after a prerecorded content is transferred tothe portable playback device 2, the original content is deleted from thecontents storage unit 52, and playback position information of contentsnot stored in the contents storage unit 51 in the playback positioninformation registered in the playback position information list may beabandoned by the playback position information list management unit 53.

When the content of the playback target is selected by the user, and thedisplay of the position list registered with respect to the content byusing the portable playback device 2 is instructed by the user, thedisplay control unit 54 reads out data of the content at the positionindicated by the playback position information supplied from theplayback position information list management unit 53, generating athumbnail image based on the read-out data. In the case that pluralplayback position information is supplied from the playback positioninformation list management unit 53, thumbnail images showing thecontents at positions indicated by respective playback positioninformation are generated.

The display control unit 54 displays a window as shown in FIG. 3 at thedisplay unit 11, in which thumbnail images, times indicating positionswhen registered are displayed with comments included in the playbackposition information, allowing the user to select a playback startposition of the content.

When a certain position is selected from the displayed playback startpositions by the user, the display control unit 54 reads out data of thecontent starting from the selected position from the contents storageunit 51, and plays back the read-out data, thereby displaying contentvideo at the display unit 11 from the position selected by the user.Audio of the content is also outputted from a speaker and the like ofthe television receiver connected to the recording/playback device 1,which corresponds to the video display.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a function configuration example ofthe portable playback device 2. At least part of function units shown inFIG. 5 is realized by a prescribed program executed by a CPU included inthe portable playback device 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the portable playback device 2, a transfer unit61, a display control unit 62, a playback position informationgenerating unit 63 and a playback position information list managementunit 64 are realized.

When the content having a prescribed format selected at therecording/playback device 1 is transferred from the recording/playbackdevice 1, the transfer unit 61 acquires the content, and outputs theacquired content to the display control unit 62.

The transfer unit 61, when the transfer of the playback positioninformation list to the recording/playback device 1 is instructed by theuser, acquires the playback position information list managed by theplayback position information list management unit 64, and outputs theplayback position information list to the recording/playback device 1.

The display control unit 62 plays back the content supplied from thetransfer unit 61 in accordance with instruction by the user, anddisplays content video at the display unit 21. The display control unit62 also outputs audio of the content from a speaker, or earphones fittedto the portable playback device 2.

The display control unit 62 allows the playback of the content to be apause state when registration of a position is instructed by the userduring playback of the content, displaying the window shown in FIG. 2.

When the input by the user performed with respect to the window shown inFIG. 2 is received by the input unit 22, and information indicating thecontents of the input by the user is supplied from the input unit 22,the playback position information generating unit 63 generates playbackposition information including information of a position indicated by atime from the head of the content, an indication ID of the content, anindication ID of the user and character strings inputted by the user,and outputs the generated playback position information to the playbackposition information list management unit 64. The playback positioninformation generating unit 63 generates playback position informationand outputs the generated playback position information to the playbackposition information list management unit 64 every time positionregistration is instructed by the user.

The playback position information management unit 64 registers theplayback position information supplied from the playback positioninformation generating unit 63 in the playback position informationlist. The playback position information list managed by the playbackposition information list management unit 64 is read out at apredetermined timing by the transfer unit 61 and transferred to therecording/playback device 1.

Subsequently, respective processing of the recording/layback device 1and the portable playback device 2 having the above configurations willbe explained.

First, processing of the recording/playback device 1 will be explainedwith reference to a flowchart in FIG. 6.

The processing is started when, for example, one content is selectedfrom the list of prerecorded contents by the user.

In Step S1, the transfer unit 52 of the recording/playback device 1reads out the content selected by the user from the contents storageunit 51, and converts the read-out content into a content having aformat for the portable playback device 2 to be transferred to theportable playback device 2. In the portable playback device 2, thecontent is played back in accordance with an instruction by the user,and position registration is performed suitably.

In Step S2, the transfer unit 52 judges whether the playback positioninformation list has been transferred from the portable playback device2 or not, and waits until the transfer unit 52 judges that the list hasbeen transferred.

When it is judged that the playback position information list has beentransferred in Step S2, the transfer unit 52 proceeds to Step S3,acquiring the transferred playback position information list. Thetransfer unit 52 outputs the acquired playback position information listto the playback position information management unit 53 to allow thelist to be managed.

In Step S4, the display control unit 54 judges whether presentation ofpositions has been instructed by the user or not, which have beenregistered when the content of the playback target was selected by theuser and the same content was viewed by the user by using the portableplayback device 2, and waits until the display control unit 54 judgesthe presentation has been instructed.

When the display control unit 54 judges that the presentation ofpositions registered when the user viewed the content by using theportable playback device 2 has been instructed in Step S4, the displaycontrol unit 54 proceeds to Step 5 and displays the registered playbackstart positions by a list as shown in FIG. 3 based on the playbackposition information supplied from the playback position informationlist management unit 53. When the content of the playback target wasselected by the user, in the playback position information listmanagement unit 53, playback position information concerning positionsfor the content of the playback target registered by the user isselected among playback position information registered in the playbackposition information list to be outputted to the display control unit54.

In Step S6, the display control unit 54 judges whether a certainposition has been selected from the presented playback start positionsby the user or not, and waits until the display control unit 54 judgesthat the position has been selected.

When the display control unit 54 judges that the certain position hasbeen selected in the Step S6, the display control unit 54 proceeds toStep S7, reads out data of the content starting from the selectedposition from the contents storage unit 51, and plays back the read-outdata. Video of the played content is displayed at the display unit 11and audio is outputted from the speaker.

Next, processing of the portable playback device 2 will be explainedwith reference to a flowchart of FIG. 7.

The processing is started when, for example, a content having aprescribed format is transferred from the recording/playback device 1.

In Step S11, the transfer unit 61 of the portable playback device 2acquires the content transferred from the recording/playback device 1,and outputs the acquired content to the display control unit 62.

In Step S12, the display control unit 62 judges whether start ofplayback of the content has been instructed or not, and waits until thedisplay control unit 62 judges that the start of playback has beeninstructed by the user.

When the display control unit 62 judges that the start of playback hasbeen instructed by the user in Step S12, the display control unit 62proceeds to Step S13, starting playback of the content, for example,from the head thereof. Video of the played content is displayed at thedisplay unit 21 and audio is outputted from the speaker and the like.

In Step S14, the display control unit 62 judges whether registration ofa playback start position has been instructed or not, and waits untilthe display control unit 62 judges that the registration has beeninstructed. The playback of the content is continued until theregistration of the playback start position is instructed.

When the display control unit 62 judges that the registration of theplayback start position has been instructed by the user in Step S14, thedisplay control unit 62 proceeds to Step S15, allows the playback of thecontent to be a pause state and displays a window used for the positionregistration as shown in FIG. 2 at the display unit 21.

In Step S16, the playback position information generating unit 63generates playback position information including information indicatinga position designated by the user, an identification ID of the content,an identification ID set in the portable playback device 2 (user ID) andcharacter strings inputted by the user, and outputs the generatedplayback position information to the playback position information listmanagement unit 64 to be registered in the playback position informationlist.

In Step S17, the display control unit 62 judges whether the playback ofthe content is finished or not, and repeats the processing from Step S14until the display control unit 62 judges the finish. When the displaycontrol unit 62 judges that the playback of the content is finished inStep S17, the process proceeds to Step S18.

In Step S18, the transfer unit 61 judges whether transfer of theplayback position information list to the recording/playback device 1has been instructed by the user or not, and waits until the transferunit 61 judges that the transfer has been instructed.

When the transfer unit 61 judges that the transfer of the playbackposition information list to the recording/playback device 1 has beeninstructed by the user, the transfer unit 61 proceeds to Step S19,transfers the playback position information list managed by the playbackposition information list management unit 64 to the recording/playbackdevice 1 and ends the processing.

According to the above processing, the user can select a position fromwhich the playback is started in the recording/playback device 1 byreferring to positions registered when viewed the content using theportable playback device 2.

In the above description, the case that the content which can be viewedby the user using the portable playback device 2 and in which playbackstart positions can be registered is the content copied from therecording/playback device 1 has been explained, however, it is alsopreferable that the user registers playback start positions with respectto contents played back on the portable playback device 2 by streaming.

In the above description, in the playback start position list displayedin the recording/playback device 1, only thumbnail images, positions(for example, time or chapter information) and character strings aredisplayed as information for respective playback start positions,however, it is also preferable that various scene metadata other thanthe above are displayed. For example, in the case that the priority ofthe playback start position can be set at the time of registration ofthe playback start position, the set priority is displayed at the listas the scene metadata.

It is also preferable that the identification ID of the user isdisplayed as scene metadata, and that, when the user registers his/hername in the portable playback device 2 and it is included in theplayback position information, the name of the user is displayed asscene metadata.

The playback start positions registered by the user are not only usedfor selecting a start position of the playback in the recording/playbackdevice 1 but also used for the skip (index) after the playback isstarted. In this case, playback is performed from respective playbackstart positions registered by the user every time the user instructs theskip by operating the remote controller and the like.

In the above description, playback position information registered inthe playback position information list will be deleted in therecording/playback device 1 when the concerned content is deleted,however, it is preferable that the content is deleted when instructed bythe user. Also in the portable playback device 2, the content may bedeleted in accordance with the instruction of the user or the deletionof the content.

In the above description, the identification ID of the user included inthe playback position information is the identification ID set in theportable playback device 2, however, it is also preferable that otheridentification IDs are used. For example, in the case that it isnecessary that information of the portable playback device 2 isregistered in the recording/playback device 1 as information of a devicefor viewing the content before transferring the content, anidentification ID generated by the recording/playback device 1 at thetime of the initial registration is used as the identification ID of theuser. In this case, the same identification ID generated by therecording/playback device 1 is managed both in the recording/playbackdevice 1 and the portable playback device 2, and the user using theportable playback device 2 is identified by the recording/playbackdevice 1 based on the identification ID.

It is also preferable that an identification ID is added to the contentwhen the content is copied to the portable playback device 2, and theadded identification ID is used not only as the ID for identifying thecontent but also used as the ID for identifying the user.

The above series of processing can be executed by hardware as well asexecuted by software. In the case that the series of the processing isexecuted by the software, programs included in the software areinstalled from a program storage medium to a computer incorporated in adedicated hardware or, for example, a general-purpose computer which canexecute various functions by installing various programs.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of apersonal computer which executes the above series of processing byprograms.

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 executes various processing inaccordance with programs stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, or astorage unit 108. In a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, programs executedby the CPU 101 and data and the like are suitably stored. The CPU 101,the ROM 102 and the RAM 103 are connected to one another by a bus 104.

An input/output interface 105 is connected to the CPU 101 through thebus 104. To the input/output interface 105, an input unit 106 includinga keyboard, a mouse, a microphone and the like and an output unit 107including a display, a speaker and the like are connected. The CPU 101executes various processing in accordance with instructions inputtedfrom the input unit 106. Then, the CPU 101 outputs results of processingto the output unit 107.

The storage unit 108 connected to the input/output interface 105includes, for example, a hard disc, which stores programs executed bythe CPU 101 or various data. The communication unit 109 communicateswith external apparatuses through networks such as Internet or localarea networks.

A drive 110 connected to the input/output interface 105, when removalmedia 111 such as a magnetic disc, an optical disc, an optical magneticdisc or a semiconductor memory are mounted, drives them and acquiresprograms or data stored therein. The acquired programs or data aretransferred to the storage unit 108 if necessary to be stored therein.

The program storage media installed in the computer and storing programswhich are activated by the computer includes the removal media 111 aspackage media such as the magnetic disc (including a flexible disc), theoptical disc (including a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a DVD(Digital Versatile Disc), the optical magnetic disc, or thesemiconductor memory and the like, the ROM 102 in which programs arestored temporally or permanently, and the hard disc included in thestorage unit 108. The storage of programs to the program storage mediais performed by utilizing wired or wireless communication media such aslocal area networks, Internet or digital satellite broadcasting throughthe communication unit 109 which is an interface such as a router or amodem, according to need.

In the specification, steps describing programs includes not onlyprocesses performed in time series along the described order but alsoincludes processes not always processed in time series but executed inparallel or individually.

In the specification, the system means the whole apparatus includingplural devices.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. (canceled)
 2. An information processing system comprising: arecording/playback apparatus; and a playback terminal, wherein therecording/playback apparatus includes circuitry configured to output acontent to the playback terminal, manage a list received from theplayback terminal, the list including position information designated atthe playback terminal during playback of the content to identify contentpositions and identification information identifying a user of theplayback terminal, the information identifying the user being set in theplayback terminal by the user, and present specific information of thecontent at respective positions indicated by the position informationand the identification information registered in the list, the circuitryplaying back the content from a selected position, and wherein theplayback terminal includes circuitry configured to play back the contentoutputted from the recording/playback apparatus, generate the positioninformation based on a current content position and a predetermined timeoffset and to register, in the list, the position information inassociation with the identification information of the user, and outputthe list, in which a plurality of position information generated isregistered, to the recording/playback apparatus, wherein the circuitryof the playback terminal overlays a menu on the content being playedback, and generates the position information in response to selection ofa predetermined time offset from the menu.
 3. A recording/playbackapparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to output a content to aplayback terminal; manage a list received from the playback terminal andincluding position information indicating content positions designatedat the playback terminal during playback of the content, based on apredetermined time offset selected from a menu overlaid on the contentbeing played back at the terminal, and identification information of auser of the playback terminal, the information identifying the userbeing set in the playback terminal by the user; and present specificinformation of the content at respective positions indicated by theposition information and the identification information registered inthe list, the circuitry playing back the content from a selectedposition.
 4. The recording/playback apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the circuitry presents at least images of the content and timeinformation at respective positions as the specific information.
 5. Therecording/playback apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when usercomments inputted in the playback terminal when designating positions ofthe content are included in the list, the circuitry further representsthe comments as the specific information in addition to images of thecontent and time information at respective positions.
 6. An informationprocessing method, comprising: outputting a content to a playbackterminal; managing a list received from the playback terminal, the listincluding position information indicating content positions designatedat the playback terminal during playback of the content, based on apredetermined time offset selected from a menu overlaid on the contentbeing played back at the terminal, and identification information of auser of the playback terminal, the identification information of theuser being set in the playback terminal by the user; presenting specificinformation of the content at respective positions indicated by theposition information and the identification information registered inthe list; and playing back the content from a selected position.
 7. Theinformation processing method according to claim 6, wherein, in theplayback step, at least images of the content and time information atrespective positions are presented as the specific information.
 8. Theinformation processing method according to claim 7, further comprising:when user comments inputted in the playback terminal when designatingpositions of the content are included in the list, representing thecomments as the specific information in addition to images of thecontent and time information at respective positions.
 9. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readableinstructions thereon, the computer-readable instructions when executedby a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:outputting a content to a playback terminal, managing a list receivedfrom the playback terminal, the list including position informationindicating content positions designated from a menu overlaid on thecontent being played back at the playback terminal during playback ofthe content, based on a predetermined time offset selected at theterminal, and identification information of a user of the playbackterminal, the identification information of the user being set in theplayback terminal by the user; presenting specific information of thecontent at respective positions indicated by the position informationand the identification information registered in the list; and playingback the content from a selected position.
 10. A playback terminal,comprising: circuitry configured to play back a content outputted from arecording/playback apparatus; generate position information indicatingpositions in the content designated at the playback terminal duringplayback of the content, based on a predetermined time offset, and toregister, in a list, the position information in association withidentification information of a user of the playback terminal, theidentification information of the user being set in the playbackterminal by the user; and output the list, in which a plurality ofposition information generated is registered, to the recording/playbackapparatus, wherein the circuitry overlays a menu on the content beingplayed back, the menu including the predetermined time offset, andgenerates the position information in response to selection of thepredetermined time offset from the menu.
 11. The playback terminalaccording to claim 10, wherein the circuitry, when position registrationis instructed during the playback of the content, presents a userinterface including the predetermined time offsets for selection by theuser, and generates the position information from a current position inthe content and a selected predetermined time offset.
 12. The playbackterminal according to claim 10, wherein the circuitry generates usercomments inputted when designating positions of the content.
 13. Aninformation processing method comprising: playing back a contentoutputted from a recording/playback apparatus; generating positioninformation indicating positions of the content designated at a playbackterminal during the playback of the content, based on a predeterminedtime offset, and identification information of a user of the playbackterminal, the identification information of the user being set in theplayback terminal by the user; registering the position information andthe identification information in a list; and outputting the list, inwhich a plurality of position information is registered, to therecording/playback apparatus, wherein a menu is overlaid on the contentbeing played back, the menu including the predetermined time offset, andthe position information is generated in response to selection of thepredetermined time offset from the menu.
 14. The information processingmethod according to claim 13 further comprising: when positionregistration is instructed during the playback of the content,presenting a user interface including the predetermined time offsets forselection by the user; and generating the position information based ona current position in the content and a selected predetermined timeoffset.
 15. The information processing method according to claim 13further comprising: generating information including comments inputtedby the user when designating positions of the content.
 16. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readableinstructions thereon, the computer readable instructions, when executedby a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:playing back a content outputted from a recording/playback apparatus;generating position information indicating positions of the contentdesignated at a playback terminal during the playback of the content,based on a predetermined time offset, and identification information ofa user of the playback terminal, the identification information of theuser being set in the playback terminal by the user; registering theposition information and the identification information in a list; andoutputting the list, in which a plurality of position information isregistered, to the recording/playback apparatus, wherein a menu isoverlaid on the content being played back, the menu including thepredetermined time offset, and the position information is generated inresponse to selection of the predetermined time offset from the menu.17. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein theidentification information of the playback terminal is generated by therecording/playback apparatus and transmitted to the playback terminal.18. The information processing system according to claim 17, wherein theplayback terminal is registered in the recording/playback apparatusprior to output of the content to the playback terminal, theidentification information being transmitted to the playback terminalafter registration.
 19. The information processing system according toclaim 2, wherein the identification information of the playback terminalidentifies the user.
 20. The information processing system according toclaim 18, wherein the recording/playback apparatus inserts theidentification information of the playback terminal into the contentprior to outputting the content to the playback terminal.
 21. Theplayback terminal according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined timeoffset includes one of 10 second before the current position of thecontent and 20 second before the current position of the content.